'July 15' composition by Fahir Atakoğlu

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Today marks the fourth year since the attempted coup on July 15, 2016. Since October 2016, it is marked as "Democracy and National Unity Day."

On this occasion, a concert was held in the Presidential Complex in the capital city of Ankara yesterday evening (July 14).

At the concert performed in the Presidential Complex under the coordination of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, the composition written by famous pianist and composer Fahir Atakoğlu entitled "Epic of July 15" met with its audience for the first time.

The composition, which notes a series of moments and venues of the night when the attempted coup took place, consists of the sections "Betrayal, Honour, Marmaris, Salat, Call, Commander-in-Chief, House of the Nation, Bridge of Martyrs, and Democracy Watch".

Performing the piece at the concert, Fahir Atakoğlu was accompanied by Sufi music artist Sami Savni Özer, along with the Presidential Symphony Orchestra and the State Polyphonic Choir of the General Directorate of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

About Fahir Atakoğlu

Fahir Atakoğlu is a pianist and composer from Turkey who has worked with a wide range of artists across many genres of music, ranging in style from symphonic scoring to advertising jingles.

From 1987 to present, Atakoğlu has created music for commercials, news segments, and documentaries.

He has also composed music for Turkey's bands and musicians, including Mazhar Fuat Özkan, Sezen Aksu and Sertab Erener. He also composed music for singer Notis Sfakianakis from Greece.

In 2008, an album entitled "Istanbul in Blue" was released in the United States. The album is a wide-ranging set that at first seems like jazz/rock fusion, but also includes the influences of Turkish music, some acoustic interludes, and sections that are completely unclassifiable.

Atakoğlu's scoring includes the adaptation of Metin Kaçan's novel Ağır Roman (East Side Story) into a musical which was performed locally in Turkey as well as at Hollywood's Ford Amphitheater in August 2006 by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. He also composed the soundtracks of hit historical dramas such as Omar and Magnificent Century. (PT/SD)